Is old Goa in North or South

Old Goa 

Old Goa

Old Goa ( Konkani: Pornnem Goem, Adlem Goi, Goem; Portuguese: Belha Goa, lit. 'Old Goa') is a historical city situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River in the Ulhas ( present - day Tiswadi ) sub-district of North Goa in the Indian state of Goa.

The city was established by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th Century and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century untill is abandonment in the 18th century due to a plague. Under the Portuguese, it is said to have once been a city of nearly 200,000 wherefrom, before the plague, the Portuguese traded across continents. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Goa is approximately 10 km east of the state capital panaji.

From the 16th to 18th centuries, when Old Goa's population exceeded that of Lisbon or London, Goa's former capital was considered the 'Rome of the East'. You can still sense that grandeur as you wander what's left of the city, with its towering churches and cathedrals and majestic convents. Its rise under the Portuguese, from 1510, was meteoric, but cholera and malaria outbreaks forced the abandonment of the city in the 17th century. In 1843 the capital was officially shifted to Panaji. Some of the most imposing churches and cathedrals are still in use and are remarkably well preserved, while other historical buildings have become museum or simply ruins. It's a fascinating day trip, but it can get crowded: consider visiting on a weeksay morning. 

You can head to Old Goa to immerse in southern European splendor. From the early 16th century, during the evangelization of Asia, this land endured one of the most violent crusades ever witnessed in India. The same era also brought in styles of Renaissance and Baroque architecture to India. That legacy, under the aegis of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) and also classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites stands tall in Old Goa today. A region that enthralls tourists with its calm, beautiful buildings surrounded by huge swathes of green landscapes that and more is Old Goa.

Old Goa

Depending on your interest, you could explore Old Goa in a few hours or repeated visits over a few days. If you are staying in Panaji or a nearby beach, you could simply get on a bus or rent a bike to get to Old Goa and then walk around most of the sites. Thought you can walk to sites that are on the outskirts ( including the Church of the Cross of Miracles and Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount ), a bike is handier for these. Open on all days between 9 AM and 5 PM, most of the religious places in Old Goa prohibit use of camera to click pictures of people ( including selfies), photography of the structures is permitted. Similarly, people are expected to dress appropriately while visiting religious places.